Novak Djokovic overcomes Mats Moraing to enter Belgrade quarterfinals

After winning his match in straight sets, the Serbian World No.1 will take on Federico Coria in the last eight.

File photo - Novak Djokovic in action in Serbia Open; Credit: ATP Tour Twitter
By Karthik Raman | May 25, 2021 | 2 Min Read follow icon Follow Us

Novak Djokovic overcame an inspired World No. 253 Mats Moraing 6-2, 7-6 at the Belgrade Open on Tuesday. The World No.1 is now tied with Guillermo Vilas for fifth-most match wins in the Open Era with 951. The Serbian will take on Federico Coria in the quarterfinals. After celebrating his birthday on Saturday at the Novak Tennis Centre in Belgrade, Djokovic won his first match as a 34-year-old with little trouble.

“With this win I managed to put my name in another history record book,” Djokovic said after the match. “Obviously being in the same conversation with Vilas and the legends and greats of our game, it makes me really fulfilled and very joyful.”

It is to be noted that this is the second time in the current season that Djokovic has played on his home turf. He had earlier lost in the semifinals of the Serbia Open to Aslan Karatsev last month. The Belgrade Open was added after Roland Garros shifted back one week.

Earlier, both players started positively, making life difficult for the other player. After four tightly contested games, the Serbian ran riot, sealing the opening set 6-2. However, Moraing fought back impressively in the second set to make it a difficult contest. He showed immense resistance to hold off his service games.

Djokovic seemed to have gotten the control after breaking at love for 6-5, but Moraing refused to give in as he went all-out attacking to even the match. The Serbian easily clinched the tie-breaker to win the match after one hour and 40 minutes.

“I was twice a break up in the second set so I maybe could have finished out the job earlier, but credit to him for fighting, for playing really well, for playing very courageous, very bold tennis,” Djokovic said.

Musetti continues to win

Lorenzo Musetti maintained his momentum as the Italian advanced past countryman Gianluca Mager 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 in Parma.

“I think the Lorenzo of two years ago would not have been able to win this match today for sure after the bad loss of the first set,” Musetti told ATPTour.com.

“There’s a lot of improvement, we are happy and there is a lot of work to do. We are here to try to go as far as I can and [I] try to do my best.”





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